Bad news is, there’s no way around that alarm. The moment we open those doors, we’re making an appointment with those security goons.
Good news is, after some trial
“FREEZE!”
“Maker’s breath, don’t you dirtboys have anything b—”
BLAMBLAMBLAM.
and error
“FREEZE!”
“Why do you assholes even say Freeze when you’re just gonna—”
BLAMBLAMBLAM.
we’ve figured out a way to get into Pinkerton’s office without having to waste a bunch of extra time cutting through his door.
It goes a little something like this:
Legionnaire de Seel and I head up through Shaft B （studiously avoiding rung 372 as we go）。 While I hang on the ladder below him, watching the way the sparks reflect in his eyes, Finian cuts through the doors leading out to the admin level. Meanwhile, Zila and Lieutenant Kim head down to the station morgue, where the body of the recently deceased Dr. Pinkerton resides.
After four attempts
BLAM.
BRAPPPP.
“FREEZE!”
STABSTABSTAB.
the ladies haven’t found a way to avoid station security and get what they came for: the electronic passkey around the neck of Pinkerton’s corpse. But like I say, I’ve got a good feeling this time.
So cross your fingers, kids.
Sparks are raining down from the metal, the faint hiss of Fin’s cutting torch barely audible over the wailing alarms, the occasional alert klaxon. I hang on the rung below him, watch him work: his lips pressed thin, a dark line of concentration between his brows.
“Can I help?”
He smiles. “You asked me that the last three times. I’m good, Scar.”
“How you think Z and Kim are doing?”
“Well, we haven’t vanished in a burst of temporal paradox yet.” He wipes his brow on his sleeve. “So, better than last time.”
The station vibrates faintly, and another alarm wails. I feel kinda useless just waiting here, and I don’t like it.
“You sure I can’t do anything?”
Fin grins. “I’m kinda thirsty?”
One arm hooked through the ladder rungs, I swing the backpack he brought off my shoulder. Reaching inside, I fish about among our useless uniglasses for the canteen. But instead, my fingers brush against something soft. Furry. Pulling the object out into the light, I feel a warm rush on my skin as I realize what I’m holding, a smile curling my lips.
“You saved Shamrock?”
Fin glances down to the plush dragon in my hand and shrugs. “I figured we need all the allies we can get.”
I press Shamrock to my lips, breathing deep and looking at the boy above me. Maker, he’s sweet. Of all the things he could’ve brought with us, he salvages the one part of Cat we have left. I can still smell her on the dragon’s fur as I inhale, the scent of her perfume and the fabric softener she used. For a moment it hits me, and I have to close my eyes against it—the knowledge of how far we are from home, how much we’ve lost on the way here, and how we might never find our way back.
“You all right?”
I look up and see Fin staring down at me, concern in his eyes. I know I shouldn’t bother him—he has work to do, and who knows what’s hanging in the balance. But suddenly, I feel so small, I can’t feel myself at all.
“Do you think it’s going to be okay, Fin?”
He frowns slightly. “You mean …”
“I mean all this. Auri, Tyler, this, us.” I shake my head, hating the tears I feel in my eyes. “I never took any of this seriously, Fin. I spent all my time at the academy screwing around. And now we’re hip-deep in this crap and I feel totally useless. All I know how to do is talk, and there’s no room for that here. Maybe if I’d paid attention, if I—”
“Hey.” He shuts off the flashlight and, with a bit of effort, works his way down the ladder so we’re eye to eye. “Hey, none of that. You’re not useless.”
I roll my eyes. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, Legionnaire de Seel. But theoretical physics isn’t exactly my forte.”
“Maybe not.” He shrugs, his exo hissing. “But since Tyler got snagged by the GIA, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the person holding our whole squad together is you. We need you, Scar.”
He reaches out and brushes a tear away with a silver finger.
“I need you.”
I shake my head in wonder. “How have you been in front of my eyes this whole time, and I’m only just seeing you now?”